In family law, pressure is constant.
Clients are distressed, deadlines are tight, evidence is incomplete, and conflict escalates with little warning.
Under these conditions, even seasoned practitioners can slip into what many call the Reactive Lawyer Trap — the cycle of responding, firefighting, and reacting to the loudest or most urgent problem of the day.
Every strong family law matter begins long before the first affidavit is drafted, the first subpoena is issued, or the first mention date arrives. It starts with strategy, but not strategy in the abstract, theoretical sense. Effective family law strategy is structured, evidence-driven, child-focused, and grounded in a clear understanding of risk, resources, and outcomes.
Lawyers are known for their dedication, long hours, and unwavering commitment to their clients. However, without proper boundaries, the profession can quickly become overwhelming, leading to stress, burnout, and decreased job satisfaction. Setting and maintaining healthy boundaries is essential for a sustainable legal career. Here’s how lawyers can implement practical strategies to protect their time, energy, and well-being.
International travel adds another layer of complexity to family law matters, especially when children and custody arrangements are involved. Whether advising clients on travel plans, relocation, or potential legal disputes, family lawyers must be aware of key considerations. Here are five critical things every family lawyer should know about international travel:
As the new year begins, it’s the perfect time to refresh, refocus, and set your family law practice up for success. Small, strategic changes can lead to big improvements. Here are four key ways to elevate your practice in 2026:
The holiday season is the perfect opportunity for lawyers to take a well-earned break from the intensity of legal practice. The pressures of deadlines, demanding clients, and complex cases can take a toll on even the most resilient professionals. Taking time to reset, recharge, and re-energise over Christmas is not just beneficial—it’s essential for long-term success and well-being. Here are some effective ways to make the most of your break and return to work refreshed and ready to take on the new year.
The Family Law Education Network has launched a new membership program designed to provide practical support, legal resources and professional development for family lawyers, mediators and legal practitioners.
As the dust starts to settle on the May 6 changes, we are taking a look at some of the other changes that have been less publicised
We are thrilled to announce that our team has been hard at work updating our FLENA precedents to align with the latest legislation change that came into effect on May 6, 2024.
FLENA has teamed up with JustFund, Settify, and Infotrack to bring an offering of subsidised CPDs for our non-paying members throughout 2024/25.
In a move set to revolutionise the legal landscape, FLENA has announced its partnership with Smarter Drafter, a leading provider of automated document drafting technology.
AI is arguably one of the greatest technological advancements for the industry in many decades turning your everyday lawyer into a blogger, marketing genius, ad-writer, IT professional, the list is endless – but what happens when we let AI replace our own professional skills?
The Family Law Amendment Bill 2024 was first released to the public for comment as the Exposure Draft: Family Law Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2023 in September 2023 and 22 August 2024 marked a significant step in the movement toward the Bill becoming legislation with the First Reading before the House of Representatives and the passing of a motion for the Bill to go to a second reading.
As practitioners we have all heard it time and time again from clients, “we’ve reached an agreement do we really need to do financial disclosure”, or more accurately “why should I show them my bank accounts, we’re separated, it’s none of their business” and it is indisputable that the exchange of financial disclosure can be a confronting task for a client, particularly where parties have been separated for some time.
In September 2021 we were thrust into a new world order in Family Law, in the midst of a lockdown we saw a major overhaul of the rules and regulations governing Family Law, including the renewed focus on the Court’s ability to make Orders for costs where parties do not comply with Orders of the Court or the rules.
The embedding of the principles established in section 190 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 into the Family Law Act as section 95 on 6 May 2023 emphasises the crucial role of the overarching purpose and how it is applied in Family Law matters.
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE UPDATE: SIGNIFICANT REVISIONS TO COURT FORMS
Updated provided 23 April 2024
We all know that the current cost of living crisis is impacting families, and putting more pressure on Australians in so many ways. A recent survey found that 56% of families with children under 18 are currently reporting high levels
